Goshiki, the 5 ponds of Mount Bandai 五色沼

For lovers of hiking or nature walks , Lake Goshiki is a small pearl not to be missed, named after an area with several ponds and which can literally be translated as “5-color pond” .

This natural hiking trail is located close to Mount Bandai in Fukushima Prefecture. About 3.6 km long, it can be used by everyone, since it does not present any particular difficulty. No height difference or complicated passage , the path only meanders through nature .

• Read also: Mount Bandai

Multicolored Swamps

Goshiki-numa meanders between various swamps called Bishamon, Aka, Midoro, Benten and Ao. But these are not simple marshes where you can observe fish and wild birds. These 5 marshes are famous because they each have a different color such as cobalt blue, emerald green and sometimes even red.

So, nothing guarantees you that you will, during your walk, come across these chromatic differences for sure. Indeed, these color changes are due to the temperature of the water, the weather, the angle of view, and the season . And, fact that does not change: the composition of the food, which results from the eruption of Mount Bandai, nearby, in 1888 . During the eruption, part of the volcano collapsed, destroying villages and creating lakes all around its crater.

Lots of factors, then. The positive point is that by visiting it at different times of the year, you will always have the impression of discovering a new place . It is at Lake Bishamon that the walk begins, the most famous and frequented of the lakes, to end at Lake Ao.

A Protected Sector

A few precautions, however, before embarking on this hike. As the area is particularly humid, there are often many mosquitoes , especially in summer. Don't forget to protect yourself from these biting insects ! Finally, the hiking area is subject to special protection . It is forbidden to walk outside the hiking trail, to ride a bike or to pick plants or pick up animals. Campfires are also prohibited. This allows the area to remain unspoilt and not suffer too much from the presence of tourists.

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